Even with the Big 10 Bloggers Basketball Poll heating up, there is another race that is just about to get started for the new season (thanks to Run Up the Score for bringing this to our attention). The Fulmer’s Cup crowns the least-behaved student athletes among college teams. The Fulmer’s Cup is now in it’s third year with Marshall taking the Cup in 2006 and Big Ten’s very own Illinois winning in 2007. For those of you who are unaware of the rules and award system, here is a recap:

Points are awarded for player arrests. These have to be current football players and verified charges, so if Uncle Jimboridicus calls and tells you that he swears he saw someone being stuffed into the back of a squad car…no dice unless we’ve got a wire report or an arrest record. Also, if it’s a graduated player, or someone who’s already declared for the draft…no go there, either. Coaches can count, but relatives of players do not.

The rules for scoring are as follows, but are not limited to:

* Murder: 5 points.

* Rape: 4 points. Downgraded to one if either participant is wearing a clown mask.

* Bestiality: 4 points. It’s a form of rape, really, no matter how much the goat has had to drink. High point value justified further by the fact that it involves having sex with an animal. You could say this was unthinkable, but in the past year alone two stories involving college athletes and at least the association with barnyard bonhomie of a most intimate degree have been reported, including the EDSBS Official GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD: the arrest of Oregon State player Ben Siegert for stealing a sheep used in a study on homosexuality in sheep.

* Grand Larceny: 4 points. We use this as a catchall for players being involved in crime so outrageous and well-planned it can only be described as ‘nefarious,’ ‘professional,’ or ‘legislation.’ Applies to large drug rings, chop shop operations, and the Haitian human trafficking ring that’s been run out of the Miami locker room since ‘93. (We kid! They didn’t get that thing humming ’til ‘95 at the earliest.)

* Hitting Girls: 3 points. We’ll downgrade this to 2 if the girl can hold her weight and requires daily medication to prevent her from gouging her own eyes out (since those were the ones we always ended up dating, and we understand); or we’ll upgrade to 4 points if the damage includes intensive care. Dad always said never hit girls, so we take this one seriously. Dad also said always double down with split aces, too, but we’ll be damned if we didn’t end up selling bone marrow in Macau the last time we followed that bit of advice.

* Car theft/Assault/Driving through houses drunk/Drug possession of the Tyrone Biggums variety: 3 points. “Drug possession” never sounds all that bad until you add in ‘crack cocaine,’ which is society’s signifier that your life has gone from that of high functioning simian in a complex society to that of a rat with electrodes in your brain’s pleasure centers hitting a pedal in a glass box in a lab. Weed? Par for the course, especially if you’re NFL-bound. Crack? Break out the Sports Century ‘Weepy Sonata’ music, because the story of your descent from boundless potential has just begun, and they haven’t even begun to show the grainy shots of 130-lb you huddled in a shelter on Skid Row.

* Fightin’ in ‘da Club/Weed Possession/Standard DUI: 2 points. Any scenario involving group fighting of a thugged-out, ‘we run this place’ variety, and marijuana possession of the nickel bag level. Possession of 100 pounds of marijuana is a totally different thing, and takes you right back up to the 4 point ‘nefarious’ level.

* Drankin’/Suspended License/Assorted petty misdemeanors: 1 point.

And with that, the new season is underway and the lucky team to collect their first Fulmer Cup Points for 2008? SEC’s very own Tennessee Volunteers with 4 points when 2 wide receivers were busted for possession of marijuana (2 points) after being pulled over for a busted tail light. So congratulations, once again the SEC is ahead of the Big 10 headed into the new season.

Anyone with updates of student athletes and their antics are encouraged to contact us here at nittanywhiteout.blogspot.com and we’ll keep an updated Fulmer Cup’s standing throughout the season.

Before we move on to the more pertinent issues, a few updates are in order:
1. Justin King has announced he will be headed for the NFL next year effectively breaking the recent successful track record of Nittany Lions that stayed for their senior years (Paul Poz, Dan Connor). King will be the first entry into the NFL since LaVar Arrington was the second overall pick in 2000. That’s 8 years of successfully retaining Nittany Lions which we should commend Joe Paterno and his staff

Penn State junior cornerback Justin King has played his final game for the Nittany Lions. Terry Smith, King’s stepfather and the head coach at Gateway High, told FightOnState.com and Scout.com that his son intends to enter the 2008 NFL Draft.

…

“The decision was ultimately Justin’s to make,” Smith said. “We sat down as a family and discussed his options and we just felt the timing was right and it was time for him to move on to the next step in his life.

“He notified [PSU defensive coordinator] Tom Bradley of his decision Tuesday,” Smith continued. “He is out in Arizona at API right now, working out and preparing for the draft.”

Eventually King listened to the almighty dollar, but we are happy for all that he has given to Penn State and wish him the best of luck.

2. Penn State (10-5) put a hell of an effort against an equally improved Minnesota (12-3) squad in a 76-73 loss at the Bryce Jordan Center. The loss can be attributed to horrible free-throw shooting on Penn State’s part allowing a 16 point lead to slip away with an 8-21 free throw shooting (38%) in the 2nd half. This is still a lot better than being blown out in every single game so I commend the Lion basketball team for a great effort.

Officials: Sid Rodeheffer, Dan Chrisman, Dwayne GladdenTechnical fouls: Minnesota-None. Penn State-None.Attendance: 10934Score by Periods                1st  2nd   TotalMinnesota.....................   35   41  -   76Penn State....................   38   35  -   73

Points in the paint-MINN 32,PSU 30. Points off turnovers-MINN 24,PSU 11.2nd chance points-MINN 3,PSU 9. Fast break points-MINN 8,PSU 14.Bench points-MINN 29,PSU 8. Score tied-8 times. Lead changed-11 times.Last FG-MINN 2nd-03:14, PSU 2nd-03:35.Largest lead-MINN by 4 1st-09:59, PSU by 16 2nd-12:58.

Now on to the important stuff:
NittanyWhiteOut is a proud participant of the Big Ten Bloggers Power Poll run by fellow Big Ten blogger Gopher Nation. So without further ado, here is NittanyWhiteOut’s Big Ten Bloggers Basketball Power Poll for the week of January 14th, 2008:

1. #10 Indiana (3-0): This is the real deal, a potential Final Four team with the way they are playing. They earned a closer-than-should-be win over rival Illinois, but because Illinois isn’t fielding much of a squad this year, it is not as impressive as it actually sounds. The wins away at Iowa and Michigan are important because we all know how hard it is to earn a win away from home in the Big Ten.
Quality Wins: @Iowa, @Michigan
Bad Losses: none

2. #21 Wisconsin (3-0): This was a tough decision between Wisconsin and Michigan State. But Wisconsin managed to get the win against Iowa that Michigan State could not. So by default with the conference race just heating up, they take the early lead over the Spartans.
Quality Wins: @Michigan (+16)
Bad Losses: none

3. #6 Michigan State (2-1): Michigan State has more quality wins against Big 10 opponents especially against a Minnesota squad that is clearly much improved over last year, but with just 3 games into the season, their loss to Iowa puts them just a notch below Wisconsin which managed to beat the same Hawkeye team.
Quality Wins: Purdue, Minnesota
Bad Losses: @Iowa

4. Purdue (2-1): While the Boilermakers aren’t making statistical noise, their win against the Buckeyes and Wolverines are impressive enough to put them just about the improved Golden Gophers squad. Even their 3 point away loss to the #6 ranked Spartans is quite impressive.
Quality Wins: Ohio State
Bad Losses: none

5. Minnesota (2-1): The Gophers are clearly improved from last year’s dismal squad, but how good are they exactly? Even after a close win over a good Penn State team at the Bryce Jordan Center, we can’t exactly say if they are a quality team ready for the Big Dance.
Quality Wins: @Penn State
Bad Losses: none

6. Ohio State (3-1): This is clearly not the Oden led team from last year, but at 3-1 they are in a prime position to make noise in the Big Ten.
Quality Wins: @Illinois, Iowa (+31)
Bad Losses: none

7. Penn State (2-1): Surprising 2-1 start to the Big Ten with 2 wins away from Bryce Jordan Center which hasn’t happened in half a decade for the Lions basketball program. This squad is rising and if it wasn’t for a dismal 31% free throw shooting in the second half against the Gophers, they would be sitting at 3-0 entering their match up with a top tier Wisconsin team.
Quality Wins: @Illinois
Bad Losses: none

8. Iowa (1-3): Iowa is one of those squads that can be just good enough to compete with the best in the Big Ten, or horrible enough to lose to the bottom feeders. This will be a rough year for Hawkeye fans.
Quality Wins: #6 Michigan State
Bad Losses: @Ohio State

9. Illinois (0-4): The Illini have fallen on hard times for a proud basketball program. This has not been a great month for Illini fans. They were humiliated on the West Coast in the Rose Bowl where they clearly did not belong and now an 0-4 start including a 3 game losing streak. That is unacceptable considering the incredible Orange Krush support they get at home.
Quality Wins: none
Bad Losses: Penn State

10. Michigan (1-3): Shockingly bad for a team that fired it’s last coach and stole West Virginia’s. Wolverine fans everywhere are hoping their inaugural year with a new Mountaineer head coach in football won’t be as humiliating as basketball.
Quality Wins: none
Bad Losses: Wisconsin (-16)

11. Northwestern (0-4): Dismal, absolutely dismal once again.
Quality Wins: none
Bad Losses: @Minnesota (-19)

Even the Ohio State cheerleaders couldn’t get a thing right in the championship game.

So with the hiatus of Penn State football, we are now enjoying a healthy dose of college basketball. Fortunately for Lion fans this year, the basketball team isn’t playing to make its fans vomit like years past. They actually have an undefeated record in conference play headed to a 2pm match up with an equally improved Gophers team at the BJC today. (With that, I have probably just jinxed the team and are going to go winless for the remainder of the season) But the Lions haven’t really beaten anyone of significance as of yet other than impressive rare road wins and beating the Hokies in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. So this game will actually determine which squad is on their way to respectability. A win in this game, despite both teams being very much unproven can go a long way towards earning conference heading to the heart of the conference schedule.

Go State! Beat the gophers!

Remember the two students who made the mistake of dressing up as Virginia Tech victims for a Halloween party? The girl in the photos, Jessica has contacted us by email and issued the following statement which she has allowed me to share and hopefully help the healing process:

I wanted to tell you, that I am apologizing for wearing the costume. I am deeply
and sincerely sorry. I am sorry for hurting the families of the victims, Va
Tech students, Penn State students, and my family and friends. Sorry.

After a long conversation with my pastor, I came to the realization that it was
a horrible and tasteless idea—if I could take it all back I would … Turn
back time and wear an other costume I would.

I would like to apologize to anyone who was offended. I am sorry.

It was a really bad decision, I was not thinking clearly, and I do not agree
with what Nathan Jones thinks and says about his actions. I am sorry for
offending people and I am sorry for wearing the costume. I am speaking for
myself.

We at NittanyWhiteOut commend her for stepping up to the plate and apologizing for her actions. As 18-23 year olds, there is no doubt students make mistakes, some more evident than others, but it takes guts and courage to simply say “I’m sorry” which Jessica has done. The guy in the picture with her continues to argue his case under the delusion that people will warm up to his act of ‘free speech’.

With fake bloody bullet holes in his head and Virginia Tech polo shirt, Nathan Jones knew his Halloween costume this year was controversial, and he doesn’t intend to apologize — “never ever ever.”

“I will die before I do,” he said.

We wish Jessica the best of luck following this ordeal and hope she can get her apologetic message across to those directly affected.

Too Easy

reads the first line of the local Myrtle Beach paper reporting on the national championship. Last night, anticipating a better game, I dragged my buddy to a local sports bar to catch the game rather than plant myself on the couch which I should have done instead. Down here in South Carolina, we are on the cusp of SEC country so I anticipated strong support for their SEC brethren LSU. To my surprise, we were actually surrounded by people rooting for the Buckeyes. One was a Penn State fan which probably like me is sick of hearing about this SEC speed. The others were Buckeye fans decked out in Ohio scarlet and gray.

By jumping to a quick 10-0 lead which included a Beanie Wells sprint down the sidelines which the ’speedy’ LSU defenders couldn’t catch up to and a wheel route down the sidelines which eluded more speedy LSU defenders, we were pretty content with ourselves. But that’s when it just went downhill. LSU point after point and hester run after run only sucked the air out of the Buckeye support and soon even before the fourth quarter began I had to leave the bar. Turning to the Buckeye fans next to me, I handed them the pitcher of beer we could no longer finish because I had to get out of there and said “I’ve watched the game last year and I just can’t watch it again.” By the time I returned home, Ohio State had cut the lead to two touchdowns but threw yet another interception.

And it begins all over again:

Ohio State is now 0-9 in bowl games against the SEC — not a reasonable stat when you consider the two leagues, the prestige and quality of athletes and coaches at Ohio State. - ESPN

Because next year’s BCS National Championship Game will be played in Miami, and the Ohio State Buckeyes aren’t invited. Especially if the Southeastern Conference champion is invited. - Pat Forde

The Big Ten, by contrast, has been the baby’s crib. Ohio State has coasted through that league 15-1 the past two seasons, only to collapse in the face of an SEC champ with a lower BCS standing and a worse record… he should know not to bring that weak Big Ten stuff back to the BCS National Championship Game again next year. - Pat Forde

Indeed, Monday’s beatdown hatcheted straight through the core of Ohio State’s program and the Big Ten conference. Both carried iffy reputations into the BCS championship – the Buckeyes because of their lack of wins against high-quality opponents, the Big Ten because of its 5-10 record in bowl games the past two seasons. - Jason King

It was another listless BCS mismatch, Louisiana State not even needing a truly great performance to beat Ohio State 38-24 in a game with little drama after the second quarter - Dan Wetzel

Georgia’s president is hooting and hollering for an 8 game playoff because they were fortunate enough to go on a hot streak to end the season and clearly called out the Rose Bowl:

“If one of those bowls chooses not to participate, another game could be found to fill the void,”

This would therefore most likely mean leaving behind the Pac-10 and Big-10 champions behind in this proposed 8 game playoff and would almost never happen despite what all the SEC fans believe should happen following another Ohio State disaster.

Everyone else should form their Plus One and let the Big Ten and Pac-10 return to an era gone by and compete solely in the Rose Bowl if they so please. Yes, the Rose Bowl conceivably could produce a better matchup – say if Ohio State and USC entered unbeaten – but that would be a worthy risk for everyone else. Most years the Rose Bowl would be marginalized by the real tournament. - Dan Wetzel

So let the bashing continue for yet another year. And for all those Michigan fans who thought their ‘rivalry’ is more important than the interest of the Big Ten as a whole? If Michigan goes undefeated next year, they better be begging for a spot in the title game because they won’t be handed one. So much for protecting their ‘rivalry’.

With the Big Game approaching fast lots of vacation time available, I needed to keep my mind occupied. With bowl games in Toronto and the G-Mac match up on, I expected it to be a quiet lead up to the championship game in the sports world. But lo and behold I was wrong. Surprisingly, it was the Lion’s basketball team that provided the biggest shocker entering Assembly Hall and knocking off the mighty fighting Illini in their Orange fortress. They might not be the championship caliber squad of the last few years, but the Illini are almost invincible at home and Penn State usually plays like a girl’s high school squad on their road games so trust me when I say, this is a shocker.

The Nittany Lions faced a hungry Illinois team that had lost its last two at home and was playing for a loud, sell-out crowd of 16,618.

Way to help avenge our upset loss to the Illini in football this year. It was Penn State that upset the Illini on Feb 4, 2006 when they ended the Orange Krush’s record 33-game home winning streak knocking them off 66-65. They come back 2 years later and deliver another gut punch to the Illinois faithful.
So what’s the big deal beating a mediocre Illini team this year?

• The 7 game win streak is the longest since 2000-2001. (Thats 8 years ago)
• This was the first consecutive road win since 1999. (Thats 9 years ago)
• With the win, Penn State starts off 2-0 for the first time since 2004 (Thats 4 years ago)

So congratulations to the Lion basketball squad. They’ve been perennially beaten up on since joining the Big Ten so its nice to see them enjoy some success.

Over the last week we were treated to bowl games ranging from the snoozers in the BCS to near classics in the Capital One, Las Vegas and Chick-fil-A bowls. Your team might have won convincingly or lost in a last second heartbreaking fashion. Your coach might have abandoned your team for greener pastures somewhere else or your school just hired a new coach destined to take your team to the holy grail of the title game. From the hardwood crazies of Hoosier and Illini fans and the ice rink fanatics in Badger and Gopher land to the tradition rich pastures of Wolverine and Lion country, we all have a common goal. We must root for the Buckeyes Monday night.

But how is it possible for fans of teams the Buckeyes have beaten up on in recent years to turn a blind eye and root for them? Same way a fan who married a spouse from a rival school can stand living under the same roof. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Desperate times? What in the world am I talking about. This is the Big Ten, the one steady conference that survived the chaotic conference realignments of the 90s, the conference almost everyone dubbed the Big 2 and little 8 prior to Penn State’s addition. There is no way the conference of NFL athletes, Heisman winners, mega stadiums and national titles is in jeopardy. Is there?

stuff about how Ohio State didn’t beat a quality team this year … how Ohio State backed into the national championships game … how Ohio State doesn’t deserve another shot at the crown after getting UNCEREMONOUSLY DUMPED in last year’s title tilt. - Sporting News

Did Ohio State earn its title bid? Show me a single win that demonstrates Ohio State’s prospective merit as national champions. What’s more, imperfect is better than untested. It addition to wins over Virginia Tech (3) and Tennessee (16), LSU beat Florida (12) and Auburn (23). I look forward to my vindication on Jan. 7 in New Orleans, where the second-ranked team will finally win a game. - Fox Sports

The Buckeye’s “only” had one loss; but they also had a weak schedule. In fact they only beat one top-25 team all year – Wisconsin. And, the Big Ten has no Championship game. So, they didn’t have to play that extra, presumably tough, game. - SEC Sports Fan

Please, please, please…don’t let it be Ohio State. They are 10-1, have not beaten a single team in the top 20 all season and their conference doesn’t have a title game to make them earn the top spot in their division through head-to-head competition as in other divisions. Actually, I would rather see Hawaii play Ohio State and kick their ass…though Kansas could probably do it.

Getting the picture?
While most Wolverine fans take pleasure in all this criticism of their hated rivals, in doing so aren’t they laughing at themselves? For all the mockery of Ohio State, most of it is based on their ‘weak schedule’ that they beat up on with the exception of Illinois. This weak schedule argument is both an indictment of the Buckeyes as well as their opponents. That would be you Northwestern, Minnesota, Purdue, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan fans. The fact that every living soul outside the Big Ten region believes Ohio State didn’t beat anyone with a pulse is an insult to every man, woman and child who calls themselves a fan of a Big 10 school. What makes Death Valley, Neyland and The Swamp so much tougher to play at than Beaver, Michigan, Ohio and Camp Randall stadium? Must be their cooler, more spruced up names. Don’t tell me Ohio State did not play the same trap games that LSU lost in. At Penn State in a prime time night game, Wisconsin which has no trouble winning in the Horseshoe, at Purdue and Minnesota at night, the list goes on. But critics continue to berate the easy schedule Ohio State had to navigate basically dismissing any of the aforementioned teams as quality opponents. The Big Ten has basically become a version of the Big East circa 2005 when nobody believed they even deserved an automatic berth in the BCS. How did we fall so far, so quickly?

It’s true Ohio State gave us a stinker last year against Florida, but Michigan didn’t exactly light up USC in the Rose Bowl either. And all that, in addition to Michigan’s debacle against Appalachian State this year contributed to this media myth of SEC superiority and speed. So hate the Wolverines, Gophers, Badgers, Spartans, Lions, Wildcats, Hoosiers and Illini as much as you want 364 days a year, but we need a Buckeye victory. LSU has been dubbed the poster child of the mega-super dominant SEC even before the season started when everyone short of the Pope called a USC-LSU national title match up. So in order to effectively bury this Big Ten weakness, there is no better team to beat than the ‘team of destiny’ from the SEC. It doesn’t help that LSU is effectively playing a home game for the national title, but I am so sick of this SEC superiority. Think one Ohio State loss to the Gators was bad last year? Now imagine two. For years the respect for the Big Ten has propelled its teams into title games and BCS spots because people knew if you did well in the Big Ten, you were good enough for the big match up. But that respect is slowly dwindling. The Big Ten needs a victory for the sake of its future. So suck it up Illini, Hoosier, Hawkeye, Wolverine, Spartan, Gopher, Wildcat, Lion, Boilermaker and Badger fans and root for a Buckeye victory, your teams’ futures may depend on it.

Forbes just released the top 20 most valuable college football programs and while most of the data is to be expected, there are some staggering details:

	Value	Conference	2007 Bowl Destination / Record
1. Notre Dame	$101 million	Independent	Not bowl eligible (3-9)
2. Texas	$92 million	Big 12	Holiday (10-3)
3. Georgia	$90 million	SEC	Sugar Bowl* (11-2)
4. Michigan	$85 million	Big 10	Capital One (9-4)
5. Florida	$84 million	SEC	Capital One (9-4)
6. LSU	$76 million	SEC	National Championship* (11-2)
7. Tennessee	$74 million	SEC	Outback (10-4)
8. Auburn	$73 million	SEC	Chick-fil-A (9-4)
9. Alabama	$72 million	SEC	Independence (7-6)
10. Ohio State	$71 million	Big 10	National Championship* (11-1)
11. Oklahoma	$70 million	Big 12	Fiesta Bowl* (11-3)
12. South Carolina	$69 million	SEC	Not bowl eligible (6-6)
13. Penn State	$69 million	Big 10	Alamo (9-4)
14. USC	$53 million	Pac 10	Rose Bowl* (11-2)
15. Arkansas	$53 million	SEC	Cotton (8-5)
16. Texas A&M	$50 million	Big 12	Alamo (7-6)
17. Washington	$50 million	Pac 10	Not bowl eligible (4-9)
18. Nebraska	$49 million	Big 12	Not bowl eligible (5-7)
19. Michigan State	$44 million	Big 10	Champs Sports (7-6)
20. Wisconsin	$43 million	Big 10	Outback (9-4)

• Penn State at #13 is more valuable than USC at 14? USC the annual national title contender is $16 million less valuable than a team that has yet to beat Michigan in 9 straight tries?
• Notre Dame is college football’s most valuable team?! I thought the Catholics were a very giving and sacrificial bunch? Oh wait, that’s right, what was I thinking. Though I bet NBC’s thrilled with this year’s Irish bunch.
• 8 SEC teams and 5 Big 10 teams make up the 20 most valuable college football teams. Boy its not even a question as to what 2 college conferences define college football does it. The Big 12 comes in third with just 3 teams, Pac 10 with 2 teams, and Independents with 1.
• Not a single ACC or Big East team made the top 20. Surprising especially with teams like Florida State, Miami and Clemson in the ACC and historically relevant Syracuse and Pittsburgh in the Big East.

Way for Notre Dame to prove what douche bags they are once again. Like the Yankees of baseball, they have the most money to invest in the program and produce as little as humanly possible without completely falling apart. But luckily for the Golden Domers, at least the MLB requires the Yankees to play themselves into the post season and if they don’t they save themselves the humiliation. The Irish are handed a spot in the BCS the moment they qualify like the spoiled brat who feels entitled to all that holy on God’s green earth. The only thing an Irish fan should be thankful for this season is that they finally are bad enough to not humiliate themselves in the post season. Hey, that’s more vacation days for Charlie Weis to count the undeserved money he’s stealing from the almighty ‘Catholic’ institution.

First 3 minutes of a 10 minute Ohio State’s motivational video the players were given to watch prior to this Monday night’s match up with LSU in Death Valley South:

Apparently this wasn’t available at the time:

I’m not one to question Jim Tressel’s motivational ploys, but the video is kinda morbid, its like watching someone berate you over and over again. But hey, if it works… In the interest of Jim Tressel’s motivational regiment for the Buckeyes, heres a video with a similar strategy for those Buckeye fans who need to make themselves heard in what will basically be a home game for the Tigers.

The Rose Bowl did nothing wrong and doesn’t need to apologize for their decision. What decision was that you ask? Their decision to invite Illinois to play the Pac-10 champion USC instead of the more popular Georgia or Missouri.

First off, I myself would have enjoyed the USC-Georgia match up and jokingly blamed Hawaii for ruining the possibility, but let’s put to rest the ridiculous “why weren’t we treated to a USC-Georgia match up” debate. It wasn’t going to happen EVEN if the Rose Bowl committee felt compelled to provide college football fans a great match up, which they aren’t. The Rose Bowl, having lost their Big Ten champion tie-in Ohio State to the national championship, are entitled to pick anyone who qualifies (top 14 in the BCS) to replace them. But wait, LSU is in the title game too, so doesn’t the Sugar Bowl with the SEC champion tie-in get to do the same? You’re absolutely right. But because Ohio State is number 1 and LSU is number 2 going into the title game, Rose Bowl gets to pick over the Sugar Bowl. So now the Rose Bowl is faced with the decision of who to face USC.

And in comes the hordes of mindless football fans who claim Georgia should have been the pick. But in order for the Rose Bowl to do so, they must receive permission from the Sugar Bowl because they have the SEC tie-in even if LSU is in the national championship. Think of it as the Bowls owning the rights to each conference. So the Rose Bowl can either go through the difficult process of negotiating a release of the SEC by the Sugar Bowl for a USC-Georgia match up or go with someone else. So the chances of the USC-Georgia match up were slim to none.

So Missouri? Hawaii? or Illinois? Sure the Rose Bowl could have picked Missouri to face USC to create an odd Pac-10/Big-12 match up or undefeated Hawaii for an even odder Pac-10/WAC match up, OR stick to their century long tradition of Big 10/Pac-10 that has built the Rose Bowl into the premier bowl in the nation. So it really wasn’t a hard decision. With Illinois eligible, the Rose Bowl could spurn the Big 10 with whom they’ve had a century long partnership (and hence ruining the shot of the Big 10 in collecting 2 BCS bowl payouts) and feel the wrath of James Delany and go with a ‘reach for the moon’ shot of satisfying the mythological entitlement of a good match up football fans feel, OR stick to what has been so successful for nearly a century and live to play another day. So it’s not surprising the Rose Bowl made the right decision without a bit of hesitation.

With all the backlash following the aftermath of the Rose Bowl blowout, it almost seems as if the Rose Bowl committee committed college football blasphemy when in fact they are the one remaining steady, shining beacon of tradition left in college football. Coaches come and go, Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino proved that quite well, players only get 4 years of eligibility and uniforms can be changed like diapers. But we always have the Rose Bowl and their traditional Big 10/Pac 10 match up and pageantry. Talking heads like Stewart Mandel, Lee Corso and Mark May threw the Rose Bowl under the bus this season and the blowout only seemed to validate their whining as if every single Rose Bowl game in its 106 year history have been classics. So get over yourselves. Obviously more people want to watch the Rose Bowl even despite the backlash than the Sugar Bowl or a classic Fiesta Bowl last year without a backlash.